$20 to go to a movie with Dakota seems like a whole lot

particularly for a matinee, but we did get popcorn.

Objectively speaking, Pooh's Heffalump Movie was a decent movie - not terrible anyway. Let me first say, that kid's movies are generally terrible. This is not coming as a movie snob (although the argument could be made that I am one) or as some sort of protective parent (although many kids movies do contain values that I find repugnant). I am just taking a point of view as someone who has seen a lot of movies with his daughter. I know that she likes an interesting story with a structured plot, good characterization, genuine emotion, a little action, a little humor, and a happy ending. So it annoys me to no end the way that movie studios (particularly Disney) can toss out garbage on the assumption that as parents, we have no other choice. For one thing, it's expensive, but that' not the main reason. Certainly, I can wait for most movies to come out on DVD and by then I'll know if its a renter or a buyer. Even mediocre kids movies tend to be a buy (although Dakota has messed up a couple). No, the main thing is that the marginal savings in the animation process and production when you make a low-quality film versus a high quality film are such that there is no reason to make a low-quality animated feature, ever. It's an even worse sin than Mary Worth.

So what was good about this movie that you are definetly not going to see?

I lead off with the digression: I cynically believe that what was good about this movie was totally missed by the Eisner-type people (who only saw an oppurtuntiy to market another stuffed animal when they chose to upgrade this release from direct-to-video to theatrical) but old Walt would have known that this was a good movie and lucky for us, some of those people are still involved in making Disney films.

First of all, it was lovingly hand-animated. I noticed on the credits that Disney had this done by their first-rate Tokyo Animation studio. This was apparently their last project before getting the axe. I feel bad that this group had such a bad rap for making direct-to-video. Their work showed pride and honor in a market that is often shockingly bad.

Second of all, the script is surprisingly dark and subversive. With gentle banality, Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Rabbit (especially Rabbit) become a case study in the perpetration of biggoted violence. No kidding. Well meaning, but ignorant (and arrogant)... the crew sets off to capture (and imprison) Heffalumps only to return home to find Rabbit's garden and Pooh's pantry have been trashed. Ignorance and fear turn to hysteria and vengefulness. There is a hasty proliferation of homeland security measures: half-backed traps, nets, and other nasty things. At the very next moment, just when Kanga's reasonableness looks like it might have a hope of prevailing, the Heffalump is mistaken as endangering Roo. The inevitable tawdry ending comes and find multiple nooses around the neck of the baby Heffalump - put their by Rabbit, Tigger, Pooh, and Piglet. Of course, all of this is telegraphed in the opening number which describes all the terrible things about Heffalumps... that they are different.

Honestly though, the anti-xenophobia message wasn't what I responded to the most.

There was this non-crucial scene, half a scene really, near the end of the 1st act, where Kanga and Roo are talking. Roo is talking about growing up and Kanga is doing her best to be a loving single Mom. Okay the Carly Simon song (and the Carly Simon soundtrack generally) that followed was a bit annoying but the dialog and the pictures had genuine emotion. Maybe I've grown soft-hearted as a Dad. But, this scense -- It certainly didn't need to be there to develop the plot, and yet... there it was: in the middle of this calculated marketing ploy -- a moment of genuine emotion tucked in between plot exposition and a corny song.

I was impressed for a moment. Then the moment was over.

On an unrelated note, I actually like the Elvis Song about Yoga. I was humming it to myself and smiling, so maybe I just have rotten taste.